from: Lion News lionnews00@gmail.comto: Russ.Conrow@co.lake.mn.us,Lara.Nygaard@co.lake.mn.us,carey.johnson@co.lake.mn.usdate: Thu, Sep 14, 2017 at 9:13 AMsubject: Chapter 13 data request for Case No. 31-CR-15-571 State of Minnesota vs Anna Marie Cass datamailed-by: gmail.comRussell H. Conrow Lake County Attorney 218.834.8375:Please email me the following readily available, free, electronic, public data:1. 12/17/2015 Transcript Doc ID# 67 for Case No. 31-CR-15-571 State of Minnesota vs Itasca County sheriff's administrator Anna Marie Cass2. Lake County Attorney's office policy and procedure manual - entire manual.3. Chapter 13.83 Subd. 7. Criminal investigative data for for Case No. 31-CR-15-571 State of Minnesota vs Itasca County sheriff's administrator Anna Marie CassTerry Dean, Nemmers (320) 283-5713P.S. You aren't attempting to run out the statue of limitations on good oi' boy Itasca County Sheriff Vic William's witness tampering case, are you?On November 16, 2015, while preparing for trial in the above matter, the State became aware of new information regarding the role of Itasca County Sheriff Victor Williams may have played in the incident that led to charges in the case. This information was contained within hundreds of pages of transcript from an internal investigation provided by the defense. Specifically, Sheriff Williams made statements that are self-incriminating in nature. Further Sheriff Williams allegedly made admissions against his interest to at least two other people. The scope of the internal investigation was limited to whether the defendant and Chief Deputy Hirt committed misconduct. Accordingly, it appears from the investigative report generated as a result of the internal investigation that the self-incriminating statements allegedly made by Sheriff Williams were never followed up on. In an attempt to verify that fact, the State requested a copy of Sheriff Williams statement from the internal investigation from the defense. The State was told that defense counsel did not believe a statement have been taken from Sheriff Williams. It also appears from the investigative report that the witnesses Sheriff Williams allegedly made admissions against his interest to were not interviewed. This new information, especially when considered in the context of what can reasonably be characterized as multiple ongoing attempts by Sheriff Williams to steer and influence the outcome of the independent criminal investigation into this incident by an outside agency, causes the State great concern. ... The prosecutor, as an officer of the court, and with the duty to seek justice, has an obligation to further investigate the role of Sheriff Victor Williams played in the incident that occurred in the Itasca County Sheriff's office on November 24, 2014 that led to these charges. Memorandum of Law and Fact in support of State's Motion for Continuance of Jury Trial in Case No. 31-CR-15-571 State of Minnesota vs. Anna Marie Cass. Dated: November 19, 2015.Electronically signed by Lisa B. Hanson #302235 lisa.hanson@co.lake.mn.usWhen he discovered that sheriff's administrator Anna Cass had monitored the meeting using audio-visual equipment in the office, documents say Bliss filed a complaint with Human Resources. That launched a criminal investigation into the department where charges against Cass were eventually dropped. But, according to the arbitrator, the incident became central to the deputy's eventual termination. Documents say that in May 2015, Sheriff Vic Williams placed Deputy Bliss on administrative leave saying he was "taking the action due to the turmoil going on in the office." Later, in December of 2015, documents say, the sheriff terminated Bliss citing thirteen instances of misconduct. Arbitrator rules against Itasca County Sheriff's Department By Heidi Enninga, WDIO-TV by Duluth News Tribune and Forum Communications Company on Sep 16, 2016 at 8:00 a.m.Ugrich claims in the lawsuit that he felt he had to resign because he was "singled-out and targeted" for publicly backing a deputy who was running against Sheriff Vic Williams in 2014. The documents say Ugrich "served as a de facto campaign manager" and it was "widely known in the community" that Ugrich was supporting Deputy Bryan Johnson's candidacy. Former Itasca County deputy files lawsuit against sheriff By Baihly Warfield, WDIO-TV by Duluth News Tribune and Forum Communications Company on Apr 28, 2016 at 10:15 p.mAuthorities were alerted to concerns about Johnson — an Itasca County deputy who ran unsuccessfully for sheriff in 2014 — by a local school official. ... Johnson allegedly gave several explanations for the discrepancy — that on one date there were substitute teachers and on another he was investigating a fatal crash — but school records showed there were no substitutes, and on one occasion, Johnson was actually in Minneapolis, according to the complaint. Two Bovey councilors face felony charges By Tom Olsen, Duluth News Tribune and Forum Communications Company on Jul 23, 2017 at 10:00 p.m.

Office of Lake County AttorneyLake County Courthouse601 Third AvenueTwo Harbors, MN 55616218.834.8375 (phone)218.834.8397 (fax)www.co.lake.mn.usSeptember 18, 2017Lionnews00@gmail.comThis letter is a response to your request for documents under the Minnesota Data Practices Act. The first document you requested was “12/17/2015 Transcript Doc ID# 67 for Case No. 31-CR-15-571 State of Minnesota vs Itasca County sheriff's administrator Anna Marie Cass.” That document is attached. You also requested the “Lake County Attorney’s office policy and procedure manual – entire manual. There is no such document in the Lake County Attorney’s Office. The final documents you requested were “Chapter 13.83 Subd. 7. Criminal investigative data for for Case No. 31-CR-15-571 State of Minnesota vs Itasca County sheriff’s administrator Anna Marie Cass.” Lake County does not maintain or possess such documents.Sincerely,/s/ Russ ConrowRuss ConrowRC/kan

5 And6 in those statements is material that was new to me,7 specifically additional statements that had allegedly8 been made by Sheriff Vic Williams ah, that appear to be9 self—incriminating with regard to the incident Ms. Cass10 is charged with.Um, specifically he said to the11 complaining witness in our criminal case “I'm to blame, I12 told them to do it.” When told it was a felony he13 indicated “I guess I'll just have to take a felony then."14 There‘s also information in there that indicates that the15 Sheriff allegedly made incriminating statements and16 admissions to at least two other Itasca County employeesl7 or officers, and buy one of those officers was directedl8 to self—report his conduct in connection to this matterPage 5. State of Minnesota, Plaintiff vs. Anna Marie Cass, Defendant. Transcript of Proceedings, File No. 31-CR-15-57l

from: Lynn Hart lynn.hart@co.itasca.mn.usto: "lionnews00@gmail.com" lionnews00@gmail.comdate: Wed, Sep 20, 2017 at 8:12 AMsubject: Data Requestmailed-by: co.itasca.mn.ussigned-by: itasca.onmicrosoft.comsecurity: Standard encryption (TLS) Learn moreDear Mr. Nemmers: I received your voice message regarding a data request for some employee’s in the Sheriff Department. Can you please put your data request in writing so that I can properly respond to your data request. I have included a link to the policy with the form for you to use. Thank you.

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Lynn Hart, Human Resources Director 218-244-3658:Chapter 13 data request - Please email me the following readily available, free, electronic, public data:1. Subd. 2. Public data. 4) the existence and status of any complaints or charges against the employee, regardless of whether the complaint or charge resulted in a disciplinary action; (5) the final disposition of any disciplinary action together with the specific reasons for the action and data documenting the basis of the action; (6) the complete terms of any agreement settling any dispute arising out of an employment relationship, including a buyout agreement for the following Itasca County personnel: Itasca Co Sheriff's Deputy Bryan Johnson, Itasca County Deputy Troy Ugrich, Itasca Co Sheriff's Lt Michael Bliss, Itasca Sheriff's Office Administrator Anna Marie Cass, Itasca County Sheriff's Chief Deputy Denise Hirt, and Itasca County Sheriff Victor J. Williams, https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/?id=13.432. Subd. 2. Public data. (7) work-related continuing education for the following Itasca County personnel: Itasca Co Sheriff's Deputy Bryan Johnson, Itasca County Deputy Troy Ugrich, Itasca Co Sheriff's Lt Michael Bliss, Itasca Sheriff's Office Administrator Anna Marie Cass, Itasca County Sheriff's Chief Deputy Denise Hirt, and Itasca County Sheriff Victor J. Williams, https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/?id=13.43 (Years: 2010-2017)3. Itasca County personnel manual and Garrity warning.Terry Dean, Nemmers (320) 283-5713P.S. Would you like to hear all my recordings of all my messages?And in those statements is material that was new to me, specifically additional statements that had allegedly been made by Sheriff Vic Williams ah, that appear to be self—incriminating with regard to the incident Ms. Cass is charged with.Um, specifically he said to the complaining witness in our criminal case “I'm to blame, told them to do it.” When told it was a felony he indicated “I guess I'll just have to take a felony then." There‘s also information in there that indicates that the Sheriff allegedly made incriminating statements and admissions to at least two other Itasca County employees or officers, and buy one of those officers was directed to self—report his conduct in connection to this matter. Page 5. State of Minnesota, Plaintiff vs. Anna Marie Cass, Defendant. Transcript of Proceedings, File No. 31-CR-15-57l.After an independent investigation, criminal charges were brought against one of the individuals who attempted to record or listen to Bliss’s conversation. Id. at 3. The charges were eventually dismissed without prejudice; however, the criminal investigation is still pending, and has been turned over to the Federal Bureau of Investigations (“FBI”). Id. Page No. A17-0529 April 10, 2017 STATE OF MINNESOTA COURT OF APPEALS, Michael Bliss, Respondent/Plaintiff, v. Itasca County, Petitioner/Defendant. RESPONDENT’S RESPONSE TO PETITION FOR DISCRETIONARY REVIEW. Trial Court Case No. 31-cv-16-3257 Judge Paul E. Rasmussen.